Euphyllia Feeding GROWTH Challenge!

Tanked_Life · Jul 21, 2016

Hello R2R!

I am trying to put the whole "do euphyllia actually eat or benefit from feeding?" concern to rest! To accomplish this I am hosting a friendly challenge that will net us some very valuable information.

This Challenge will test the feeding effects of:

Euphyllia glabrescens (torch) , (photo creds thanks to @WWC !)

Euphyllia divisa (frogspawn), (photo creds thanks to @CherryCorals !)

and Euphyllia ancora (hammer coral) (photo creds thanks to @AquaSD !)

Why these 3 you ask? Well because in my experience they are among the most common branches of euphyllia!

I need volunteers to test each of the following categories:
(Each category should run the general parameters for an LPS tank). Tests using all Lighting are welcome! Please Specify which type of lighting they are under!

Torch coral feeding spot feeding LPS pellets or similar and other miscellaneous food
Torch coral feeding only fish food or even (@ReefFrenzy 's "reef frenzy" )
Frogspawn coral feeding spot feeding LPS pellets or similar and other miscellaneous food
Frogspawn coral feeding only fish food (again reef frenzy is great)
Hammer coral feeding spot feeding LPS pellets or similar and other miscellaneous food
Hammer coral feeding only fish food (again the above applies)

Please comment below if you would like to Participate in this challenge. And again this is Friendly. There is no reward other than bragging rights and knowledge. This thread is only to gather participants. Once all slots have been filled to our satisfaction, the mods and I will post a new thread (of which no comments other than progress is allowed).

Here are the slots left to be updated upon fulfillment (I will tag the user responsible for the slot chosen in the corresponding color)
1. 3 slots @stevo01 (165W LED) @Jongalt26 (ReefBreeders LED)
2. 2 slots @Lenny_S (Hydra 26's)
3. 3 slots @Jongalt26 (ReefBreeders LED)
4. 2 slots @domination2580 (SB Reeflight) @Jongalt26 (T-5) @Triggreef (ReefBreeders Photon 24/T-5's)
5. 2 slots @Tahoe61 (Hydra 52's)
6. 2 slots @Lenny_S (Hydra 26's) @domination2580 (SB Reeflight)

Thank you!

reeferfoxx · Jul 21, 2016

Could you suggest that water parameters and lighting needs to be identical, as well?

Elegance Coral · Jul 21, 2016

"I am trying to put the whole "do euphyllia actually eat or benefit from feeding?" concern to rest!"

If this is the goal, why not have someone post a video, or series of pic's, showing their euphyllia actually capturing and engulfing a piece of food?

Tanked_Life · Jul 21, 2016

Elegance Coral said:
"I am trying to put the whole "do euphyllia actually eat or benefit from feeding?" concern to rest!"

If this is the goal, why not have someone post a video, or series of pic's, showing their euphyllia actually capturing and engulfing a piece of food?

Lets put it this way, I have been feeding my euphyllia LPS pellets for a good month. I see them capture the pellets but It is rather hard to tell (unlike and anemone) if they are capturing the pellets in response to feeding or just that they are getting stuck in the "tentacles". I am starting this challenge to document the GROWTH of the euphyllia to 1. see if they are truly eating the lps pellets (if they are then we will see more growth than not) and 2. how much more growth takes place. I would also like to see the growth in each category in response to different lighting. for this challenge, only healthy specimen will be taken under consideration (hence why flow and position in the tank of the coral does not concern me). If the coral is healthy and happy then position and flow does not matter anyways. I do ask that participant feeding LPS pellets do turn of their power heads to make sure the coral did eat it and if so how much it ate. If at the end of the challenge the specimen in the lps feeding and the specimen in the "general" tank feeding under the same conditions have the same growth (in correspondence to size of course) then I say it is safe to assume that either feeding did not affect them or that they did not eat in general even though it appears to have.

To further answer your question. My euphyllia look like they eat the pellets but then again, euphyllia have been known to regurgitate foreign material. Please pm me any further concerns as I would like to keep this thread for potential participants only.

Thank you!

-Elio

reeferfoxx · Jul 21, 2016

Tanked_Life said:
Lets put it this way, I have been feeding my euphyllia LPS pellets for a good month. I see them capture the pellets but It is rather hard to tell (unlike and anemone) if they are capturing the pellets in response to feeding or just that they are getting stuck in the "tentacles". I am starting this challenge to document the GROWTH of the euphyllia to 1. see if they are truly eating the lps pellets (if they are then we will see more growth than not) and 2. how much more growth takes place. I would also like to see the growth in each category in response to different lighting. for this challenge, only healthy specimen will be taken under consideration (hence why flow and position in the tank of the coral does not concern me). If the coral is healthy and happy then position and flow does not matter anyways. I do ask that participant feeding LPS pellets do turn of their power heads to make sure the coral did eat it and if so how much it ate. If at the end of the challenge the specimen in the lps feeding and the specimen in the "general" tank feeding under the same conditions have the same growth (in correspondence to size of course) then I say it is safe to assume that either feeding did not affect them or that they did not eat in general even though it appears to have.

To further answer your question. My euphyllia look like they eat the pellets but then again, euphyllia have been known to regurgitate foreign material. Please pm me any further concerns as I would like to keep this thread for potential participants only.

Thank you!

-Elio

I see what you are doing. Kind of like consumer reports on pellet food vs. frozen or live food. Euphyllia have mouths and they have sticky tentacles which suggests they do eat and should eat. The amount of food is/has always been debatable. I think if I were a euphyllia, I would want frozen or live food. Just because of the carbs they use for pellets. Just isn't natural in my opinion. You're also forgetting that they filter feed also. They suck water in and consume the nutrients in the water column.

Tanked_Life · Jul 21, 2016

reeferfoxx said:
I see what you are doing. Kind of like consumer reports on pellet food vs. frozen or live food. Euphyllia have mouths and they have sticky tentacles which suggests they do eat and should eat. The amount of food is/has always been debatable. I think if I were a euphyllia, I would want frozen or live food. Just because of the carbs they use for pellets. Just isn't natural in my opinion. You're also forgetting that they filter feed also. They suck water in and consume the nutrients in the water column.

No I'm not forgetting they are filter feeders. I also know that even if they weren't they would be able to live due to photosynthesis. This thread is for gathering information. How those that have it interpret it is their doing but with out information you can no interpret anything. Please PM me any further concerns! This is a Trial competition and frankly I do not care what food you use and I am not getting paid to endorse anything. Look at my other threads I just care about research and research only to help others in the field. I have been keeping Euphyllia for 5 years and this question has always been a void in my opinion.

DracoKat · Jul 21, 2016

I wish I had some and my tank was ready to help you out with this research. maybe next time! Good luck!

Tanked_Life · Jul 21, 2016

DracoKat said:
I wish I had some and my tank was ready to help you out with this research. maybe next time! Good luck!

Thank you they are awesome corals!

reeferfoxx · Jul 21, 2016

Tanked_Life said:
No I'm not forgetting they are filter feeders. I also know that even if they weren't they would be able to live due to photosynthesis. This thread is for gathering information. How those that have it interpret it is their doing but with out information you can no interpret anything. Please PM me any further concerns! This is a Trial competition and frankly I do not care what food you use and I am not getting paid to endorse anything. Look at my other threads I just care about research and research only to help others in the field. I have been keeping Euphyllia for 5 years and this question has always been a void in my opinion.

Yes and what do we know about photosynthesis? The symbiotic relationship is that when the sun reacts with zooxanthellae it creates sugars which provides the carbohydrates. Without feeding live or frozen food, it's only source of protein is in the water column, provided by fish poop. But we are comparing a planet full of ocean water that is a billion years old compared to our tanks which are only X amount of years old.

Triggreef · Jul 21, 2016

You left out another set of not feeding at all group

Tanked_Life · Jul 21, 2016

u

reeferfoxx said:
Yes and what do we know about photosynthesis? The symbiotic relationship is that when the sun reacts with zooxanthellae it creates sugars which provides the carbohydrates. Without feeding live or frozen food, it's only source of protein is in the water column, provided by fish poop. But we are comparing a planet full of ocean water that is a billion years old compared to our tanks which are only X amount of years old.

Plants perform photosynthesis and with the exception of venus fly traps do not need protein (unless I am mistaken and the plants root extract some from the decomposing insects in the ground). How ever if you have further concerns pm me please so that I may make this challenge as accurate as possible

Triggreef said:
You left out another set of not feeding at all group

I considered that group but to do so, we will need participants that do not have any fish or specimen that need to be broadcast fed (because if they do the euphyllia will inevitably gather food from the water column).

Lenny_S · Jul 21, 2016

Triggreef said:
You left out another set of not feeding at all group

+1... I don't feed, I have hammers and torches, no frogspawn... If you want this datapoint I'm happy to participate.

Tanked_Life · Jul 21, 2016

Sounds Great @Lenny_S I will tag you in those categories now for LED lighting. Also you will be in the "not feeding Pellets" since I'm assuming you do broadcast feed your fish?

Tahoe61 · Jul 21, 2016

Just happen to get a head of Euphyllia Ancora last week.
SG: 1.024-25
Temp: 80 F
Alk: 8.8
Cal: 400
Mag: 1380
Have no values for nitrates and phos currently

Lighting: Hydra 52, running at %100.

I'll take the LED, E. Ancora/Hammer, either pellets or frozen with flake works for me. Just let me know.

See sig for more information.

Tanked_Life · Jul 21, 2016

I also realize that the category feeding pellets is Hazy because some individuals feed Mysis and euphyllia pick that up too. I am mostly concerned with food such as pellets that are spot fed to the euphyllia and is geared toward their health

Lenny_S · Jul 21, 2016

Tanked_Life said:
Sounds Great @Lenny_S I will tag you in those categories now but what lighting do you have so that I can fill it in? Also you will be in the "not feeding Pellets" since I'm assuming you do broadcast feed your fish?

I use AI Hydra's for lights. I do broadcast feed 1x a day with frozen mysis and alternate with prime reef every other day. And nori strips on a clip 3x a week. I imagine my euphyllia catch some small particles, but the fish clear the water in under a minute easily, so it would not be much. And yes, no pellets.